VIETNAM GRAND TOUR
DURATION: 14 DAYS (The order of tour date could be swopped or extended on your request).
HIGHLIGHT:
- HA NOI: “The cradle of Viet civilization”
- SAPA: “The town of the Mist”
- NINH BINH “The ancient capital of VIET nation’
- HA LONG “The Bay of descended dragon”
- HUE “The city of Poetry and Royalty”
- Da Nang ”The City of Fabulous Bridges”
- HỘI AN “The Must stop for all Travelers to Việt Nam”
- Mỹ Sơn ’’The sanctuary of ancient Champa kingdom”
- Hồ Chí Minh : “The pearl of Far-east”
- Củ Chi Tunnel “The underground labyrinth in the war”
- Me Kong Delta “A rice basket of Việt Nam”
DAY 1 HA NOI-THE CAPITAL DISCOVERY DAY (B/ /)
Arrive in Noi Bai airport. Guide and private car will pick up at the airport and transfer to hotel for early check-in (If room available), refreshment and breakfast.
Then you will start a day tour around Ha Noi by visiting Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum Complex, an also pilgrimage site for many Vietnamese, where he lived and his body is being preserved. Here you could understand more about Hồ Chí Minh life and his careen, the greatest leader of the country. Then visiting One-pillar pagoda, one of the oldest and famous one in the country. Continue to visit Temple of literature founded in 1076, the first university of Vietnam, where educated Vietnam’ royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. Also visiting Ngoc Son temple and The Huc bridge on the sword lake. Overnight in Ha Noi.
DAY 2 HA NOI – SAPA (B/ /)
In the morning guide and driver will take you from Ha Noi to Sapa,(about 5-hour drive on new high way)stop at Lao Cai for lunch, rest and a short visit at the border bridge to see China. Then keep driving to Sapa On the way we stop and start trekking on windy trails through into MA TRA and TA PHIN villages of hill tribe called Red Dzao to learn about their life and customs, as well as enjoy the beauty of terraced rice paddy fields. Check-in the hotel end of the day and discover the town in the evening by yourself. Overnight in Sapa.
DAY 3 SAPA – FANSIPAN – MUONG HOA VALLEY (B/ /)
Starting the tour in the morning by catching the longest funicular train in Vietnam designed by Garaventa Company (Switzerland) from the town to cable car station. Then 20 minute long cable car, the world’s longest three-wire cable car system, with fantastic scenery will bring you to the altitude of 2800 meters above sea level where you could see a panoramic view of primary forests, taking pictures, visiting spiritual temples ,etc. Finally trekking up 600 steps brings you to the top of Fansipan Mountain (about 3,143 m high), the highest one in Indochina with its nickname “The roof of Indochina” .Back the town for lunch.
In the afternoon you will trek on lovely trails through the biggest valley which provides the best view for golden rice terraced fields in Vietnam to visit Lao Chai village of Black H’mong ethnic people and Ta Van village of Giay people to discover their daily life, handicrafts and culture. Lunch and Dinner own your own. Overnight in Sapa.
DAY 4 SAPA – HA NOI (B/ /)
After breakfast check out the hotel and drive back Hanoi. Free afternoon to discover the lively life of the national capital of Vietnam, and go shopping around Ha noi old Quarter with 36 streets and explore Ha noi specialities such as Phở, Bún Chả… Overnight in Ha Noi.
DAY 5 HA NOI – NINH BINH (B/ /)
Morning pick up at the hotel and drive to Ninh Binh. Visiting Hoa Lư-the first capital of Viet Nam, sightseeing the countryside of Viet Nam. After that you also visit famous Tam Coc Caves by rowing a sampan on the river along limestone mountains lying on the rice paddies forming a so beautiful landscape which called ‘’Ha Long Bay on land’’ by Vietnamese. Finish the day tour by sightseeing Bich Dong pagoda, a famous one covered by fairy scenery. Lunch and Dinner own your account. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
DAY 6 NINH BINH – HA LONG BAY (B/L/D)
Pick up and transfer on the high way to Tuan Chau Island. Embark on the cruise and start to explore the famous natural UNESCO site in the world, Ha Long Bay, a vast bay with nearly 2000 limestone islands rising up from ocean. Enjoy your day on the bay by taking the pictures, swimming, kayaking, visiting cave on islands, relaxing and especially tasting seafood cuisine on board. Overnight in Ha Long.
DAY 7 HA LONG –HA NOI –HUE (B/ / /)
Your day would be started with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck, breathing fresh air of cheery morning. Showering, having a buffet breakfast and settling your bills before disembark at the port. Then transfer back to Ha Noi airport for the flight to HUE royal city, the first UNESCO in the country, served as the national capital of Viet Nam under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. Overnight in the centre city of HUE.
DAY 8 HUE –IMPERIAL CITY TOUR (B/L/)
You will have a great day by visiting the Imperia City of Hue, where all the most important political ceremonies happening in Viet Nam, the seat for the Nguyen dynasty during 143 years. Walking around the royal walls to artistic buildings such as King’ palace, Queen mother Palace, royal theatre and royal garden, etc. After that taking a Vietnamese CYCLO (known as Xích Lô) around the Citadel to discover the local life inside this defensive fence. Then a short drive by car to visiting the Thien Mu Pagoda, Heavenly Lady pagoda, oldest Buddhism pagoda in the south of Vietnam, where the AUSTIN car which was used by a monk in Dai Gon before his self-immolation is being displayed . A morning tour will be finished by a Dragon boat trip on the romantic Perfume River to cool you down before tasting Hue style lunch at a garden restaurant with typical Hue architecture.
After charging energy you keep visiting two most typical King Mausoleums built by Tu Duc and Khai Dinh King, one with oriental architecture and the other with the combination between oriental and western modern style. Ending up the day tour by a short stop at Hue incense stick making village to experience how Hue locals make colourful incense sticks in traditional way by skilful hands. Back to the hotel. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 9 HUE –DA NANG-HOI AN (B/L/)
Check out the hotel, you will be on one of the most incredible roads with green mountains and vast brackish water lagoon on the way to Hoi An ancient town. Making a halt at Lang Co Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the country for taking photos and a drink before driving over Hai Van Pass(Pass of ocean and cloud),one of the most scenic tops in Vietnam.
Arriving in Da Nang, photo stop at Dragon Bridge, Da Nang sandy beach, well-known as R&R beach for US soldiers during Viet Nam war. Continue to visit Marble Mountains, Holly Mountains, known as the mountains of Five Elements of the Universe, here is famous for scenery, old Buddhism pagodas and caves, the place is well-known as a holly destination for the Buddhist pilgrims. Also some minute stop at the biggest stone carving village in the world at the foot of the mountains to see how sculptors turn insentient stones into lively fine art masterpieces is great experiences. Upon Hoi An arrival, Stop for a mall lunch with delicious Vietnamese baguette(called Bánh Mỳ) before taking a walking tour around this fantastic ancient town to explore it beauty and history by paying a visit to Tan Ky old house, a typical represent for wealthy merchant’s house in the past, Chinese Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, a gathering place for home-away Chinese traders, Japanese covered bridge, the symbol for the town, lively market and Hoi An traditional handicraft demonstration where you could see how Hoianian raise silkworms to produce silk for embroidering gorgeous paintings and fold-up lanterns. Check in hotel for a rest and discover the sparkling town in the light of lanterns by yourself Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 10 HOI AN – MỸ SƠN SANCTUARY (B/L/)
In the morning an one-hour driving to the hilly place to visit Mỹ Sơn UNESCO site to discover the miracle of thousands-year-old Hindu temples built by the native people in the secret lush valley and served as the most sacred religious land from 4th to 13th century under the ancient kingdom of Champa related to the Maritime Silk Route in the past. Walking around the valley of Mỹ Sơn, you seem to be getting lost into the mythological land with ancient temples, epitaphs, mysterious religious rites, statues of deities and sacrifices. Enjoying fresh air, green nature, ancient fine art, and the special architecture of Champa temples whose construction technique remains controversial. Mỹ Sơn temples are unique and without equal in Southeast Asia. That is the reason it was honoured as the World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Lunch at local family to learn more about local life around Mỹ Sơn site and taste local dishes bringing the cuisine integration between Champa and Việt culture.
On the way back, making a stop to visit Thanh Hà pottery village to see how locals produce terracotta products by hands supplying for around markets. Leaving the village back Hoi An town by Boat on the historical Thu Bon river. Free time in the rest of the day Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 11 HOI AN –DA NANG –HO CHI MINH CITY (B / /)
Morning transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh, formerly called Sai Gon. Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, taking the city tour around the most bustle place in Viet Nam, visiting War Remnants Museum where displays some US military weapons left during Viet Nam War and a lot of graphic photographs reminding you of the bloodiest battle field in the world in 1970s.Another visit to Reunification Palace, the headquarter for south Viet Nam government. A photo stop at Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the oldest Catholic churches in the country with excellent architecture and General Post Office Designed by Gustav Eiffel. A cup of Saigon coffee is a sweet end of the city tour. Hotel check- in. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
DAY 12 HO CHI MINH –CU CHI TUNNEL (B/ /)
In the morning take over one -hour drive away Sai Gon to Cu Chi District which is about 60km from the center of Ho Chi Minh to the west to see a special underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the struggle for independence. You then spend few hours there to explore the maze of tunnels in Cu Chi. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters caused by B52 bombing.. By the way, watching a film to know more how the tunnels were constructed and how North Vietnamese regular soldiers struggled against South Vietnamese soldiers and US army, how guerrillas managed to stay underground many days and how they dispersed smoke from their cooking. Returning to Sai Gon .Free in the afternoon for a relaxation. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
DAY 13 HO CHI MINH – ME KONG DELTA TOUR – HO CHI MINH (B/L/)
Depart from Saigon for the wonderful trip to the Mekong Delta, one hour drive to a town in Me Kong area, embarking on the local boat for a scenic cruise on the Mekong River to visit orchards, garden houses to discover the daily life of local people, such as how to keep bees for honey, how to make coconut candy and pan coated popcorn, enjoying southern folk melody, rowing boat ride along meandering canal under the shade of coconut, having a lovely lunch with local specialties in the garden restaurant before returning to Saigon in the late afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
DAY 14 HO CHI MINH – HOME CITY
Free until transfer to the airport for the flight to home or the next destinations.
END OF THE SERVICE
